Archive for the ‘Job Search Articles’ Category

ob searches, much like first dates, are about giving the other party — in this case the employer — a once-over and presenting yourself in the best possible way. Also similar to first dates, job searches give you several opportunities to make a single mistake that is a real turnoff.

You’re on your own when it comes to finding true love, but for staying in an employer’s good graces, we’ve got you covered. So put on your best clothes, style your hair and make sure you don’t make one of these job interview gaffes that are certain to turn off an employer:

Turnoff No. 1: Arriving too early for an interview

The reason: Interviews are scheduled at specific times for a reason. Hiring managers have other meetings and responsibilities to deal with throughout the day, so they can’t interrupt their schedule just to meet with you. Also, interviews often have multiple components. If you’re scheduled to meet the hiring manager first, then have a conversation with some potential colleagues, followed by a tour of the company and finally a drug test, an early (or late) arrival disrupts everyone’s schedule.

The solution: By all means, arriving early is better than arriving late. However, from an interviewer’s perspective, arriving 45 minutes early and letting the receptionist know you’ve arrived is just as bothersome as showing up 45 minutes late. If you get to the interview location too early, go to a nearby coffee shop, take a walk around the block or sit in your car to pass the time. Checking in with the front desk five or even 15 minutes early is acceptable and shows the employer you’re punctual.

Turnoff No. 2: Letting your desperation show

The reason: Although you have been looking for a job for several months or even longer, don’t let your frustration become the interviewer’s problem. A negative attitude that causes you to vent about the hardships of being unemployed can leave you reeking of bitterness and repel employers.

The solution: Don’t get us wrong — being unemployed can be one of the worst experiences a person goes through, and anyone who has been there understands that eventually you reach a point where you want to scream. Nevertheless, do your screaming before you get to the interview.

When you’re preparing for the interview, think like an employer. Do you want to hire the person with amazing qualification, a great personality and the potential to grow with the company? Or do you want to hire the person whose primary concern is getting a paycheck, who sounds angry and who might quit the moment a better job comes along? Enthusiasm impresses an employer; desperation does not.

Turnoff No. 3: Being too aggressive with your follow-up

The reason: Employers want to see enthusiasm from job seekers, but they don’t want to be inconvenienced by said enthusiasm. Two e-mails, a handwritten note, a few phone calls and a quick visit to the office just to see how things are going will not impress a hiring manager. That approach will scare them.

The solution: Again, enthusiasm wins over desperation every time. You need to send a thank-you note, and you can send both an e-mail and a postal letter to cover your bases. Pestering employers doesn’t just make you look desperate, it also annoys them. They don’t have time for so many distractions and eventually the first thing they’ll think of when they see your name is, “Oh, that’s the one who wouldn’t leave me alone.” Prove you have common sense, which includes knowing when to stop.

Turnoff No. 4: Talking trash about anyone

The reason: You probably have plenty to say about your incompetent former boss and inept co-workers, but you know better than to say it. You’ve been told that employers hear you talk negatively about a past boss and think, “One day you’ll be talking that way about me.” You might forget that the same thoughts run through their mind when you talk about other organizations, too. If you’re interviewing with the No. 2 company in a specific industry, you shouldn’t take cheap shots at the No. 1 company every chance you get. Employers know you’re job hunting and that you’ve probably been just as unkind about them in other interviews.

The solution: Stay positive. Explain why you want to work for the company. Point out how your experience has prepared you for this move. You don’t need to pretend that your former employer is a personal hero, but you should demonstrate that you are bringing something from the company other than your 401(k). Rather than belittle the competition, promote this company. Say, “I know your competitor is doing this, and they’ve had some success, but you have the ability to do this and that to beat them.” The focus remains on this company and also on your ideas.

Turnoff No. 5: Lacking direction

The reason: Whether or not they are micromanagers, employers like to have some trust in their employees. If your résumé, cover letter or interview suggests that you have no goals, you are not an attractive candidate. If you don’t even know where you want your career to go, how can you know this job is for you? A cover letter looking for a job instead of this job implies that you’re floating from gig to gig until you get bored.

The solution: If you’re not positive what your future looks like, at least create a narrative that satisfies you. This job might not be your ideal one, but do you see yourself learning from it and putting you on a path to something better? What could you do after you spend some time working here? Figure out what that path is so you can show an employer you know where you’re going. You don’t need to promise that you’ll stay at this position forever, but you can suggest that you are eager to learn and want to move forward. Employers like ambition because these workers tend to care about their jobs and ultimately improve the business in some capacity.

The workplace of 2020 is an exciting one, filled with changes specifically designed to benefit the future employee. Workers of tomorrow can look forward to more employee development and advancement opportunities than at any time in the past 30 years. How you develop your work skills today could lead to a big pay-off in the 2020 workplace.

Ten factors that will impact the 2020 workplace:

1. Demographics.What it is: By 2020, the American workplace population will be more diverse: 63 percent white, 30 percent Latino, and 50 percent female. Four or even five generations, from Boomers to Generation 2020, will be working at once.How it helps you: Companies going global will need to incorporate the experiences and backgrounds of a diverse workforce. Teams will be built up of workers of different gender, race and generation — and even workers of different nations.

2. Rise of business ethicsWhat it is: Companies that once only operated for profit will place new emphasis on the importance of their people, as well as the impact their existence has on the planet. The new bottom line will incorporate profit, people and planet.How it helps you: An emphasis on doing good means companies will strive to be environmentally friendly. Plus, the ability for workers to give real-time feedback about their leaders ensures leaders will be held to their worker’s standards.

3. Social technologyWhat it is: Vlogging, Twitter, intranet chat rooms, Skyping — even today, there’s a vast array of online communication tools, with more to come.How it helps you: The use of social technology means real-time feedback loops as well as facilitating offsite work teams. Social technologies will also enhance informal and peer-to-peer learning.

4. Mobile workplace What it is: Increasingly powerful mobile phones are replacing laptops as the main work device.How it helps you: Advanced Internet capabilities on your cell mean accessing your “desk” anywhere, anytime. Welcome to the “third place”: If the office is the first job site and the home office the second, the “third place” is anywhere your phone is.

5. Work/life flexibilityWhat it is: For younger generations, work is a significant part of their life, but they don’t compartmentalize it like older generations tend to. It isn’t about work-life “balance”; it’s about work/life integration.How it helps you: Flexibility tools like web commuting and “third place” working will help replace the 9-to-5 workday with a goal accomplishment one (meeting goals regardless of what time of day the work was done), which will help companies boost the job satisfaction of their employees.

6. Serious playWhat it is: “Sims” (Simulated Games) is the new buzz word in training: Online Sims allow employees to learn new jobs through low-risk direct practice.How it helps you: Training will start to look like the games we’ve come to love, and studies show that Sims are effective methods for accelerating competence across the employee spectrum.

7. MentoringWhat it is: One-on-one mentoring is still a powerful way to develop employees, but companies will also use reverse-, micro- and group-mentoring.How it helps you: Increased emphasis on mentoring means that your professional development will get a super-charge via direct input from company leaders as well as from your peers. Best of all, your opinions and skills are given new value as you reverse-mentor others, meaning that you will be tasked with teaching those senior to you about your role.

8. Democratization of informationWhat it is: Digital record keeping makes company information accessible to all.How it helps you: The end of hierarchies! More employees will be tapped to help shape policy, project management and solve problems, rather than just follow orders.

9. Personal brandingWhat it is: Social technologies track personal ratings, referrals and reputations.How it helps you: A good reputation has the same value in the future as it does now: It makes you a highly desired employee who can set your own value in the marketplace.

10. Talent shortageWhat it is: There’s a big gap between all the Boomers retiring and the number of Generation X’ers available to fill their shoes.How it helps you: The demand for 2020 leaders will result in more concentrated employee development and faster promotions for younger workers!

Although it’s a ways off, you can start preparing for the 2020 workplace by:

Adopting a global mind-set.

Becoming familiar with social networks

Building your personal brand

The future is coming, and adapting now will position you for a fast-track career in 2020.

1. Find a company where you fit in.
Browse potential employers’ Web sites and ask your friends about what it’s like to work at their companies. Employers are looking for candidates who would be a good fit and thrive within the company culture.

2. Don’t get discouraged.
Experts estimate the average job search to last anywhere between three and 10 months — and that means a lot of rejection. Keep at it: Your dream job is out there.

3. Always be prepared.
You can never be too prepared for your first meeting with a potential employer. Before your interview, always browse the company’s Web site. Find out as much as you can about the company’s products, leadership, mission and culture, and prepare answers to common interview questions.

4. Be on time.
Whether it’s an informational interview, an open house or a formal interview, always arrive about 10 minutes early. Allow plenty of time for traffic and poor weather.

5. Dress and act the part.
In a business setting, always dress in professional clothing in the best quality you can afford. Take the industry and employer into consideration, but a business suit is almost always appropriate for interviews.

6. Listen more than you talk.
Even if you’re nervous at an interview, try not to ramble. By keeping your mouth shut, you can learn valuable information about the company and avoid saying something that you’ll wish you hadn’t.

7. Ask good questions.
At the end of an interview, the employer will inevitably ask if you have any questions. Have a list of questions prepared that showcase your company research and interest in the position.

The most dominant feeling when you are searching for a new job is often anxiety or fear. Most of us know the feeling. We had it on our first day of school, our first date, our first presentation. It seems to be part of being alive.
The anxiety also saps our confidence, erodes our competence, and makes our job interviews difficult and even painful.

Recent research has indicated this feeling of anxiety can be erased, temporarily, long enough to complete the interview feeling great. You can stop your feeling of anxiety any time you wish.

Now that is a new idea. There is a fairly simple brain strategy that is easy to learn, but difficult to remember to use, which erases fear. Of course, the anxious feeling will return, and that is good because the Left Brain which holds ALL your fear, keeps you safe.

Switching brains by changing your attention, from Left Brain to Right Brain, dissolves the fear. Actually the Right Brain doesn’t DO fear. Only the Left Brain can produce the tight chest, shallow breathing, awkwardness, and loss of words. All the symptoms of anxiety that used to show up in your job interviews can be put on hold simply by focusing your attention in the present moment. When you put your attention in the present moment, you are tapping your Right Brain’s computational abilities. These are peace, joy, connection, expansiveness and creativity. The Right Brain only works in the NOW. The Left Brain does past and future, but as soon as the Left Brain kicks in, the Fear resurrects.

Frequently, when looking to fill a position(s), an employer will ask, why should I use a Recruiter?

There are several good reasons:

A respected and reputable recruiter has a very wide network of contacts. He has access to people and companies that may be unknown to you. He can greatly expand the base of potential candidates.

A quality recruiter will save you the time and expense of reading through hundreds of resumes as they will screen and interview candidates before passing them on to you. The recruiter and his team will make or has made all the phone calls, sent the emails, reached out to the qualified candidates, followed-up the ineffective leads. He can decipher which candidates are serious, which ones are not, which are reliable, etc., etc.

This recruiter will find your company “achievers” or “superstars” who may not actively be seeking other employment but are qualified for your position. An experienced recruiter can seek out those passive candidates that will make a career/job change for the “right” reasons.

The right recruiter is better able to maintain your confidentiality. An employer may not want a job opening to be public knowledge.

These services are financially effective for the employer. Remember, a reputable and respected recruiter can provide you with quality results at a reasonable price.

Job Seekers

Often, a job seeker or “candidate” will wonder why he or she should use a recruiter. There are several good reasons:

A reputable and respected recruiter can connect you directly with quality employers.

Because companies receive hundreds, even thousands of resumes, a recruiter can see to it that yours gets to be seen by the “right” people.

There is no fee to the job seeker/candidate for job search services. The recruiter’s fee is paid by the employer/hiring company.

A quality recruiter is also a “career counselor”. He maintains your confidentiality, can give you insight to a company’s history and the specific position you are interviewing for. He can also assist if needed with salary negotiation.

The recruiter can determine which openings best match your special talents to the company’s needs.

All in all, a respected and reputable recruiter helps to ensure a “good fit” for both the job seeker and the employer – And that’s why you should use a QUALITY RECRUITER!

1. Are you exceptionally stressed at your current job? (So much that it is affecting your health?)
2. Are you being offered a chance to actually use your skills – or are you merely being kept busy?
3. Is there opportunity for growth and advancement?
4. Is your company promoting from within or are they hiring from outside above your head?
5. Is your opinion sought and valued?
6. Is your relationship with your boss and/or co-workers comfortable enough?
7. Is your company financially stable?

If you cannot answer many of these questions to YOUR OWN SATISFACTION, it may be time to consider exploring job opportunities that are available. EJ TOTAL STAFFING has CAREER opportunities available. It just may be the right time to make that change! CALL US @ 631-424-6982 or email us a resume in strict confidence to careers@ejtotal.comPlease visit our website @ www.ejtotal.com.

Today’s job market is more competitive than it has been in thirty plus years. The current economic climate is making it extremely difficult for even the most capable and experienced Restaurant and Retail Managers to secure quality career positions. Many companies are not currently hiring and the ones that are have become increasingly picky and only want to take on the “cream of the crop”. Each and every day I see 15-20+ qualified candidates interviewing for 1 available position. These are people that would have certainly been hired a year or two ago but due to the current conditions – , such is not the case.

Here are some Basic Interviewing Tips that should make your career search significantly more effective and separate you from your competition:

Dress in Professional Business Attire for an interview! It cannot hurt – it can only help. By dressing professionally you are letting the potential employer know that you are serious, you felt it important enough to look your best and last but not least – you can separate yourself from the person that they just interviewed that did not dress in professional business attire.

Ask ”pertinent” questions. A Human Resources Manager’s biggest “pet peeve” is when they ask a candidate do you have any questions and the candidate replies, “no – I don’t have any questions”. How could you not have questions? If you are seriously considering joining this company you should have some pertinent questions – and make sure they are good ones.

Do your research! Look at the company’s website, stop into a unit, if they are a public company check out where the stock is currently trading at. There is a world of information today at everyone’s fingertips. Prepare yourself ahead of time! This will separate you from your competition and make you better than them!

Be as flexible as possible – I’m not talking about salary here. I am talking about location, hours, etc. I just had a situation where a Restaurant Company was hiring a manager and it was down to 2 candidates that lived very close to each other. This company has 2 units in Northern New Jersey about 15 miles apart. When asked “which of the units are you commutable to”? – one replied I am much closer to Paramus – I would love to work there. The other replied – I’ll go where you need me – either location is commutable for me. Which one do you think they hired?

Show up ON TIME FOR ANY INTERVIEW – in fact – a few minutes early is good, too. If you are late for an interview – whatever the reason – indicates that you might be late for work too if they hire you. Get to any and all interview early or ON TIME!

These basic tips should help a great deal no matter what position you are interviewing for.

Before interviewing with any restaurant or retail company, do your research! Check into the company by doing some internet research – google, bing, etc. First and foremost, you want to see if the company is stable financially. Are they closing stores/units or opening them? That is a very strong indicator. If they are a public company, check out where the stock is currently trading. This is often a good indicator as well.

If the company is stable financially, visit a unit/store. Observe to see what kind of operation it is. Maybe it is too fast paced for you. Maybe it is too slow paced for you. Maybe you won’t be comfortable in that particular setting, maybe you will love the environment. One of the best ways to be sure is to visit a unit/store before interviewing. Spend some time there and watch the customers/guests, staff members, etc. If they seem happy there – that is a good sign. If they are not, it can be a negative indicator.

Look at the “hours of operation” or hours they are open. If a restaurant is open until midnight, chances are that some nights you will be working past that time. If a retailer is open at 6:00 AM, there is little doubt that there are days you will have to be in at 5:00 AM. Don’t start the job and then say – “I didn’t know I’d be working these hours”! If the establishment is open at these times – why wouldn’t you be working these hours?

Research preps you for interviews. You will certainly gain knowledge by doing research and be able to share that knowledge when you interview for a position. Human Resources Managers like when a candidate is prepared. HR Managers shy away from candidates who are not – especially in today’s economic climate.

BOTTOM LINE – DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU INTERVIEW FOR A POSITION – IT IS VITAL!!!